Um, so Patrick, real, real pleasure to be speaking with you. I, I really enjoyed the movie and, uh, it just, it feels right seeing you, uh, involved with a baseball movie for sure. In You Gotta Believe you're playing Cliff Young. Uh, te tell our audience a bit about this role. Uh, you're kind of, uh, a part of like the little League, I don't know, committee. You're, you're getting, you're getting things set in motion here.
Yeah, I mean, hey, you know, it's, um, it's a, it's a great movie. It's, uh, based on an inspiring, true story. Uh, it's kind of a, about a group of underdogs that definitely exceed expectations. And yeah, my role is, uh, I'm kind of right there at that pivotal moment where I have to convince the coach to, you know, take on these, these guys and, you know, ask him to do something that he probably shouldn't do, uh, just because of, you know, where they stand and the hierarchy of talent. But, uh, it turns out to be, you know, a, a great move. And as you'll see, it's, uh, again, it's inspirational and, and they have some motivating power and it's a really cool, really cool story.
Yeah, it is a lovely story. And, uh, the, the coach that you're referring to in the movies, Greg Kne and you two have some really, really strong scenes together. Uh, how was it working with him, uh, as a scene partner?
It was great. I, I, it was one of the reasons I wanted to do the movie, to be honest. Um, I, I sort of, I loved the, I loved what the role meant to the, the whole, the whole picture and, uh, the selling point I think was him. 'cause I've been a huge fan of his for years. Uh, so to be able to work opposite him was kind of, was kind of special.
Yeah. And the, the director Ty Roberts, he's done some really great sports movies in the past too. Yeah. What really, uh, how is it working with him and his vision? It's, it's really nice to see somebody focusing on these really inspirational, uh, sports stories. I feel like we don't get as many as we used to.
Oh, no. We get Marvel or bust. That's it. Uh, yeah, it was, it was great. You know, he worked with Luke Wilson, uh, on 12 My Orphans. I think that that was the one. And, um, I'd seen that and it was great. Um, and, uh, that, that was another part of it because like you said, it's just, it's nice to see people investing time into, uh, films that you kind of don't see as much anymore. And, um, that was definitely my generation, you know, the, the nineties, the early two thousands, there were a lot more stories like that. And especially now with, you know, where we're at in the world, I think it's important to have movies like this again, and we do need to make more of 'em. So that was a cool part of this too.
Yeah, for sure. And, uh, a neat connection here is you mentioned Luke Wilson, uh, he's your co-star in this film, and you were both guest stars in the same X-Files episode, and that's, that's, that's really cool that you both popped up in extremely different projects 25 years apart. Um, and I know you don't share a ton of scenes with Luke, but, uh, that's pretty cool that you guys both popped up back up for this project.
Yeah, that, that was a fun X-Files episode. I think both of us were there about a month just to film one episode, and it was kinda one of their, their, um, humorous ones, which there's not many, so it kind of became a popular episode. So it was really cool. I wasn't sure if he would've remembered, but we were on the baseball field and he came up to me and he is like, oh man, we did that really cool X-Files together. And I was like, oh, good. He remembered. So it was kind of yeah, a cool, uh, reunion.
Yeah. That, that's wonderful. And that, that, like you mentioned that X-Files episode is, is so beloved, I think, because like you mentioned, it is different and you play a vampire in that episode. There's a really iconic shot of, of the, the, the teeth, uh, with you. Uh, what's the out about, uh, filming that because, uh, it's just a classic episode?
Well, and, and Luke Wilson's role on that is so great too because it's from the perspective and mine, it's from the perspective of Mulder and, um, God, what's the other one? Mulder and, uh,
Thank you. Yeah, so Mulder sees it one way, Scully sees it another way. So in half of it, Luke Wilson's this really handsome deputy, and then the other half is got buck teeth and he is ugly and, you know, ridiculous. So it's just, it's, they, they have that sort of juxtaposition throughout the whole film and it's kind of fun. Um, but I, yeah, that was great. I mean, I, I went out there again, Vancouver, a month film, one episode. They had sort of, they filmed episodes kind of sporadically, so I had to come out for the beginning. There was that scene where I get stabbed by Mulder in the beginning, and, uh, so I had to get stabbed and then I just had to wait two weeks to shoot the rest of the episode. So I just got to hang out in Vancouver. It was great.
And, uh, you know, uh, the Sand Law is obviously such an iconic film, and I, I feel like one of the, if I was doing a baseball movie, one of the first things I would think of is trying to get you involved, but I haven't seen you in like, a ton of different baseball movies besides the Sandlot. Have there been other offers in the past of like small cameos and stuff like that, or how is that going?
I think so. I, you know, I sort of took a break. Um, I produce a lot now and I have a production company in la Um, but when I, I have a 7-year-old and a 4-year-old, so for that kind of four or five years through Covid, I kind of took a step back. And, um, so I hadn't done a lot then, and then I got back into it and yeah, I just happened to do two movies in a row that have baseball themes, which is kind of fun. Um, but I don't know, I don't, I I don't know why it never happened before.
Yeah, yeah. You have a monster Summer coming up. I saw you as the umpire in the, in the trailer. Um, tell, tell me, tell me a bit about that project. Did you get to work with Mel Gibson? Any, or who A little bit on that.
Yeah, I, I mainly worked with the kids on that, um, which was cool too. I mean, kids in a baseball field, you know?
Yeah. You can't get better. I guess now
That I'm a dad now I can, I can do that new, that new role I can be play the adult.
Yeah. I love that. And um, speaking of the sandlot, like I, I don't, it's insane, but like the, the line, you're killing me smalls you basically influence like an entire generation of how people talk and like <laugh>, that's crazy. Like obviously great writing, but also the delivery is such a huge part. How, how surreal was that seeing that catch on? Because it's not like the San Juan was a huge overnight smash. Like, it just kept growing and growing and now it's just completely invaded, like our culture.
Well, you said it perfectly that that's it. If it was the way it was for me too, it sort of was a slow burn. Um, the movie did well in the theaters, you know, it was a hit. But again, not a, not a not Deadpool versus Wolverine, that's for sure. You know? Um, and then over the years it just, 10 year after 10 years, it kind of hit VHS and then it hit oh DVD and then people started buying it, and then the 20th anniversary came along and you really started seeing, oh wow, this is passing on to another generation now and 25 30 and it's just snowballed. It's, it's crazy.
Yeah. And, uh, I like that the group of actors from that have really em embraced the film too. Uh, I saw your great merch, the, the Hamina line. How's it been really just, uh, em embracing that and having some fun with fashion as well? So I, I have some stuff I need to pick up.
Yeah, yeah. I, you know, I, I see the stuff out there all the time and, uh, so I thought, why not just kind of make my own here, you know? Uh, and I teamed up with a, a, the creative director of The Mighty Company, which is, uh, a fashion line for women, um, a jacket line. So I, I wanted to make it kind of, you know, cool. And, uh, something that, you know, is influenced by Sand L but that maybe you'd wear on your own. Anyway, that's sort of why we went with the Haino 'cause it's kind of a fun name anyway. And, uh, but yeah, we're having fun doing it.
Yeah. And uh, like you mentioned, the Sandlots definitely passed on to like another generation after it just keeps connecting with people. Why do you think that? Uh, it, it has really stood the test of time and I, I like revisiting it and, uh, I don't know, it's a comfort film for a lot of people too.
Yeah. I think that's why I think you gotta believe has a lot of what Sandlot has in it too. I think, uh, you know, it's the well sand, I mean, Sandlot actually is kind of a true story by the way. It's so, it's loosely based around the director's childhood. Um, but you know, you have the, these this true story element, but you also have this comradery, you know, inclusion, uh, you know, baseball, which is in itself just nostalgic sport for some reason. It's America's pastime. It's uh, you know, just that alone. And, and then you add to that kids. And, and I think childhood is when everyone, you know, when everyone kind of searches to, to feel again, to, to be part of, again, that's when we're all our happiest. We don't have the worries. And, you know, the more we can get back to that as adults, the happier we are and, and then we have our own kids that we, we pass all this on to. So I think all those things, uh, make Sam Lott what it is, and I think make you gotta believe what's really special about that too.
Yeah. One thing I liked while watching, you've gotta believe, I, I felt like, you know, Sandlot is so universal and I, I feel like younger kids can really grasp onto that too. And you've gotta believe is like a, a little step older where kids are willing to deal with, uh, some more emotional, uh, issues. Uh, Luke Wilson's characters going through cancer and there's some heaviness to it. So it's, it is nice having that little step up of like, once you're a few years older, we've got, you've gotta believe that's kind of great about baseball stories. There's so many great baseball movies to where you always have one that's gonna connect to kids at just the right moment. And I I, I can definitely see that happening with you've gotta believe as well.
Yeah, yeah, I agree. It's, um, yeah, I suppose the kids are probably, what, 15? Something like that, 14, 15, so they gotta by a year on Sandlot. But, um, yeah, I, I agree with everything you said. It's really cool.
Yeah. And, um, I, I was curious, well, what's your fas favorite, uh, baseball movie that you didn't actually star in?
Oof. I mean, I think it's between, um, major League and Field of Dreams now, polar opposites, but, uh, major leagues for sure. The, the funniest one, uh, that I could just watch on repeat. And I think, uh, field of Dreams got me, you know, it was, uh, that was really cool story and great actors and, you know,
Yeah, those are two wonderful picks and it really shows just how you can do so much with a sports movie. 'cause like you said, those are polar opposites. Um, yeah. And I, I feel like the Sand Law, I, I believe that was like your first movie, correct? First or second? It
Was, yeah, first, um, I had done a small role on a Nickelodeon TV show before that, but other than that, it was the first thing I did.
Yeah. That, that's wild to have such a iconic film as your very first thing. Uh,
Yeah, I mean it was my, my second audition too. So I, my first audition was the Nickelodeon thing. I went and did one day on it, so that was a pretty quick experience. And then I had an audition for Sandlot and I'm off to Utah filming, so I, it before I could even, you know, blink I was filming movies. It was crazy.
And you, you mentioned like the, the anniversaries that pop up. I always enjoy seeing the, the whole casket together. Uh, it's really nice that you guys have like really formed a, a brotherhood of just you a a true friend show. 'cause it is nice when that extends past just the movie screen as well. I think fans really get a kick outta that.
Yeah, we do too. We, we love seeing each other and um, you know, we, we all share this experience together. Uh, we share this film that again, has stood the test of time and meant so much to so many people and we've got to experience that together as well. So we have a brotherhood that, uh, will last forever as well.
Uh, that's beautiful. And, uh, my last question for you, I was just really curious. I saw this in your, your listings of work and it just stood out. Um, I, I read that you had done some voice work for Spider-Man three, the, the video game, like on PlayStation two. Is that true?
Yeah, in the early two thousands I kind of did a lot of voiceovers. I, I, you know, it was before you had iPhone, so it was kind of a, a hidden gem of a extra career you could do. Now anyone can do it with an iPhone, so it's the cat's out of the box.
Awesome. Thank you so much for your time, Patrick. And congrats on, you've gotta believe 'cause this is a really touching beautiful sports film and I'm, I'm really glad to, to see you in it and uh, see these types of films being made.
Yeah. Well thanks for having me. Really good to meet you. Thanks everybody.